Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 24: In a landmark decision, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh today announced the Union Cabinet’s decision to introduce the provision for ex gratia assistance/ compensation to victims of cross-border firing, landmine explosions and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) explosions in the border areas.
Terming this as a decision for which people living in border areas had waited for several decades, Dr Singh said in New Delhi that the Union Cabinet’s decision is a reflection of the sensitivity with which the present Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally takes cognizance of people living in difficult situations along the borders of the country.
“There had been a long pending demand which was repeatedly put before successive Governments in the past, but it goes to the credit of Modi to have responded to it with seriousness and concern,” he told reporters briefing on the Cabinet decision.
Dr Singh said that the Line of Control (LoC) extends to over 770 kms while International Border extends to about 220 kms and the people living in the vicinity of this range are constantly subjected to sudden and unexpected incidents of firing from across the border resulting in injury and loss of precious lives.
At the same time, he said, explosion of underground land mines laid down by Pakistan and IED explosions also leave many citizens including youth crippled or disabled.
The Cabinet decision taken today, Dr Singh said, would also put an end to the sense of discrimination felt by the people living in border areas, whose grievance was that while the victims of terrorism or Left Wing extremist violence are entitled to compensation, there was no such provision available for the victims of cross-border firing and landmine explosions along the borders.
Dr Singh said kin of victims who lost life or suffer physical disability of more than 50 percent on account of cross-border firing or landmine or IED explosion, will be entitled to a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, which will be in addition to Rs. 1 lakh to be provided through Security Related Expenditure (SRE).
“This would also imply a hike of Rs. 2 lakh from Rs 3 lakh to Rs.5 lakh for victims of terrorist violence or Left Wing’s extremism, who were already entitled to such kind of compensation,” he said.
Dr Singh recalled that in the last two years, the Modi Government has taken a number of new initiatives for the well being of the people living along the border areas. These include building of bunkers along the International Border to be used in the event of sudden cross-border firing and the work for the same has already started in Arnia sector of Jammu.
Similarly, he disclosed that in the border areas of Kathua district, a project has been undertaken to construct 1140 Sulabh Sauchalayas (toilets) out of which 100 are already ready.
Commenting on Kashmir situation, Dr Singh said the Centre is open to talk to every person who believes in ‘Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat’ to resolve ongoing unrest in parts of Jammu and Kashmir. He hoped that the crisis will end soon.
He said common man in streets of Srinagar does not approve of violence but there are handful of people sponsored by foreign agencies who are triggering violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Centre is absolutely serious to restore normalcy in Kashmir as early as possible and we are taking steps in that direction. It is also the desire of the common citizens of Jammu and Kashmir including those living in Kashmir valley.
“Certainly common man in the streets of Srinagar does not approve of violence. I always have confidence that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir is very keen to be beneficiary of miraculous scheme initiated by the Modi Government. It is the handful of people, who are also sponsored by foreign agencies, who are triggering this. I am sure youths today is awaken enough to call that bluff,” said Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office.
He said the Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation in the State.
“In the last two-three days there has been some headway. Things are steadily coming back to normalcy. We are working very closely and in coordination with the State Government to resolve the situation,” the Minister said.
To a question on initiating dialogues with separatists, Dr Singh said the Government was open to talk to everyone who believes in ‘Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat’.
“When we talk of engaging it is engaging with the members of civil society and stakeholders people living in Jammu, those living in Ladakh, members of displaced Kashmiri Pandits community and Sikh community. But you cannot be engaging with somebody who is out to hit you out,” he said.
Dr Singh said the Government is not averse to any kind of solution. “We are open to listen to anybody who has anything to offer on that. The Centre is committed and sensitive to the issue. But maybe there are certain extremist elements who get fomented with the foreign sponsorship,” said the Minister, who represent Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur constituency in Lok Sabha.
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